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What Is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Packaging?

Packaging of a product plays an essential role in the success or failure of a product.

It is undeniable that packaging has a significant impact on a product's overall value. Yet, the packaging business as a whole hasn't evolved all that much in recent years, especially when compared to the continual advances in mobile devices. 

To have the perfect packaging for your product, you need to understand the different types of packaging

Why Is Packaging So Important for Your Product?

With so many packages and box options on the market today, finding the best packaging solution for your goods can be challenging. 

Packaging is used for several reasons. Security, safety, enhanced usability, engaging and improved design are just a few examples. One of the most prevalent misunderstandings regarding packaging is that it is only meant to be used once.

Each layer of packing has a distinct function. It ranges from the protection of the product to the branding that stays with your customer. 

At its most basic level, product packaging helps to protect the goods within. The packaging must safeguard the product during transit from the factory to the store and when it is on the shelf.

Since a product needs to travel from one point to another, product packaging should be reliable and long-lasting. Many firms use seals and locks on their goods to prevent tampering and increase security.

Packaging serves substantially in introducing the product to your customer. When a potential buyer enters the store, their eye catches the product that stands out from the rest. 

Unique packaging can increase the product’s value by subconsciously forming a superior product image in the consumers’ minds.

It's critical to strike the proper balance between the various degrees of protection to guarantee that your items are successfully maintained and protected.

Hence it is crucial to understand what each level of packaging will mean to your end-user. 

Let's explore some of the different types of packaging you may utilize to improve your product and customer experience!

Primary Packaging

Primary packaging, often known as consumer or retail packaging, is the first layer of packaging that comes into direct contact with the product. The major goal of primary packaging is to protect or preserve the product, so it’s safely contaminated and reached to the end consumer. Apart from that, it’s used to inform or educate the buyer about its contents. 

It’s designed to stay on the product when the customer purchases it until the consumer utilizes it. For example, the bottle that holds the liquid helps safely deliver the product, that may be water, soft drink, or juice, to the person who is going to drink it. 

Both functionality and aesthetics should be emphasised in primary packaging options. Because faulty packing may directly affect the end user's ability to utilize your goods, utility is critical. In food goods, customers will nearly always be obliged to discard items with damaged leading packaging.

According to Inc. magazine, product packaging is also essential in the branding process of the product. A constant logo, packaging color, tagline, and other forms of visuals that distinguish a product or business from its competitors are required for branding. 

For many goods and businesses, branding is an essential component of their marketing strategy. The value of branding and packaging is much more critical now.

When a product shares shelf space with many other comparable items, branding and packaging become even more critical. The correct packaging may make a well-known product stand out, causing customers to grab for it and pick it above other choices.

A company such as BluePrint Automation uses vision guided robotics to assist companies with handling and loading their naked, un-packaged, products into containers, wrappers or horizontal form fill and seal machines; including stacking and loading product prior to being bagged or wrapped.

Secondary Packaging

The outer packaging of the primary packaging that groups containers and further protects or labels the product is secondary packaging. There are many types of secondary packaging.  For example, Kellogg’s Choco Pops’ primary packaging is that silver pouch that holds the choco pops. The outer box that protects the silver pouch and has vibrant colors as well as the container used to ship the boxes is considered secondary packaging.

Thus, the secondary packaging may also be used as a shipping container for small goods, making it ideal for e-commerce. Multiple components are commonly used in secondary packaging. That includes corrugated cartons, plastic wraps, separators, etc. 

It may also be modified to make a product stand out in a warehousing environment.

BluePrint Automation specializes in secondary packaging.

Tertiary Packaging

There is one more kind of packaging: Tertiary Packaging. 

The third level of packaging, tertiary packaging, is rarely seen by customers except at low-cost retail stores. It refers to the shrink-wrapped pallets typically used to convey bulk items from producers to retailers via distribution centers.

It's used to safeguard both the product and its secondary and leading packing. The purpose of tertiary packing is to protect and ship a product.

In the distribution process, each firm that distributes any sort of product employs tertiary packaging. You've probably gotten tertiary packing if you've ever purchased something online. Its goal is to keep its items safe and make its transportation from point A to point B as simple as possible.

In Conclusion

When it comes to selecting the proper packaging solution, there are several aspects to consider. 

While finding the solutions for primary packaging, consider how the expected packaging design will seem to the end-user. Marketing is a significant aspect of running a successful company. Your introductory package is a great way to establish a solid first impression that will stay with your customer for a long time. It will also help in customer retention and brand loyalty. 

The primary packaging should be durable and reliable enough to protect your product from leakage, spillage, contamination, breakage, and other unseeable misfortunes.

Coming to the secondary package, it should be practical to carry your product from one place to another safely while saving shipment costs.  

To have the perfect layers of packaging, you might need an expert to help you out. 

Blueprint Automation knows how to choose the best secondary packaging automation solution based on your companies specific needs. Contact our experts now and start delivering your products with the help of the most reliable packaging solution.

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